bacterial diversity of alfalfa silage during ensiling of 56 days and after 3 days of air exposure
Description
The bacterial community dynamics of cellulase, Lactobacillus casei, and air treated alfalfa silage were studied using Illumina Miseq sequencing. Medicago sativa was ensiled without (CON) or with L. casei (LC) or cellulose (CE) for 56 days, then exposed to air for 3 days (PO). The bacterial communities were obviously different among groups and sample times; and Lactobacillus developed to a dominant status in all silages. Lactobacillus became dominant in bacterial communities of LC and CE silages from days 7 to 56, and their relative abundances reached 94.17% and 83.93% at 56 d, respectively. For CON silage, Lactobacillus were not the dominant genus on day 7; samples were mainly composed of several genera, including Lactobacillus, and Lactococcus, Enterococcus, and Enterobacter. Lactobacillus (75.10%) were the dominant genera in silage on day 56. After 3 days of oxygen exposure, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus were predominant in CON, and Lactobacillus remained dominant in LC and CE silages. The results indicate that, compared to untreated treated silages, L. casei could be a priority inoculant for alfalfa silage to boost Lactobacillus abundance and improve fermentation quality.